Background: THREE BRITTEN NORMAN ISLANDER AIRCRAFT DESTINED FOR THAILAND AND NEW GUINEA LEFT SOUTHAMPTON, SOUTHERN ENGLAND, TODAY (SATURDAY). ONE AIRCRAFT WILL GO INTO SERVICE WITH THE THAI GOVERNMENT, AND THE OTHER TWO WILL BE OPERATED BY AERIAL TOURS OF PORT MORESBY, NEW GUINEA.

THE CONTRACTS FOR SALE OF THE THREE ISLANDERS WERE MADE BY THE COMPANY'S FAR EASTERN DISTRIBUTORS, AIR SERVICES OF HONG KONG. THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF AERIAL TOURS OF PORT MORESBY, MR DENNIS DOUGLAS, WAS AT SOUTHAMPTON TODAY TO SEE THE AIRCRAFT LEAVE. MR GERRY MAYNARD OF BRITTEN NORMAN, AND BRITTEN NORMAN PILOT PETER HICKS WERE ALSO PRESENT.

THE THREE ISLANDERS ARE THE FIRST OF ELEVEN SCHEDULED FOR DELIVERY THIS MONTH -- THE OTHER EIGHT WILL GO TO CANADA, THE MIDDLE EAST, GREAT BRITAIN, THE UNITED STATES AND MARTINIQUE.